Families urged to research medical history

November 9, 2004

Tuesday 9th November, 2004

U.S. Surgeon General Carmona Monday announced a Family History

Initiative to encourage Americans to learn about their families' health

histories.

Carmona said the initiative was geared to promoting personal health and

preventing disease.

He also declared this month's Thanksgiving to be the first annual

National Family History Day, a time for collecting family health history

information that can benefit family members.

Creating a detailed health history can benefit everyone and family

gatherings are a great place to start, said Zaleski, a

certified genetic counselor at Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin. Talking

with family members about their health is a good way to learn more about

them and also hear great stories.

Meanwhile, Carmona also announced a free Web site that organizes

important health information into a printout that can be taken to the

family doctor and placed in the medical record. Called My Family Health

Portrait, the page can be downloaded at hhs.gov/familyhistory/.

November 9, 2004

Great idea BUT most families canot afford genetic counseling. Most

insurances do not cover it either.

Karon

November 9, 2004

This is a great idea, especially for children to hear some stories

from older relatives. I can see where this would be very educational

and practical. On one wall of our family room I have hand-painted a

huge tree with branches and leaves, showing our lineages. Of course I

would not put additional medical information there, I have my written

files for that.

Laurel

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